Her short-haired little girl's voice was hoarse.
"I'm so scared."
"They're all so mean..."
"They're all so mean to me..."
The little girl with the bob was trembling all over.
Child's Mom gripped the little girl's hand even tighter.
Child's Dad sat beside the child.
Silently offering her support.
"Mom."
The little girl with the bob was scared, upset, and confused.
"Why are they so mean to me?"
"Ah."
The little girl with the bob found the answer herself.
"They said I was lying..."
"But I wasn't lying."
"No."
"Mom and Dad didn't see it either..."
"Mom and Dad said..."
"...it was an illusion..."
"It was my illusion..."
"I was dreaming."
"Then..."
"Was I lying?"
"I—"
"Anna... Anna..."
"Anna!"
Seeing the little girl with the bob growing more and more distraught, Child's Mom gave a low, sharp cry.
She clutched the child's hand tightly.
Almost too tightly.
The little girl with the bob suddenly looked up.
Huh?
What!?
"Anna."
Child's Mom softened her tone, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "Anna."
"Let's put this behind us, okay?"
"Didn't you promise Mom and Dad?"
"Then let's make another promise."
"From now on..."
"Forget the shadow."
"Forget everything to do with the shadow."
"Whether it was a lie, an illusion, or a dream..."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"We'll forget all of it."
"Okay?"
Not everything needed to be chased down until an answer was found.
Sometimes there was no answer.
And sometimes the price of finding one was too high.
It wasn't worth it.
There was no need.
It was enough to forget.
Just forget...
The little girl with the bob looked dazed.
Huh?
Forget...
"...Forget everything?"
The little girl with the bob asked uncertainly.
"Forget everything."
Child's Mom nodded firmly.
"Anna."